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What Can You Expect During Your Baby’s Sleep Training Journey?
If you’re expecting a new baby, you will probably have many questions about how your little one will sleep. Some babies are born natural sleepers, some are not. If yours is not a great sleeper, one way that can help is to sleep train your baby.
Sleep training is the process of your baby learning to fall asleep by themselves. It’s not just about setting up a schedule. It’s also about changing the way you think about nighttime parenting so it becomes fun, not frustrating. The goal is ultimately for both parents and babies to rest better throughout their day! In this article, we’ll discuss what you can expect during your child’s sleep training journey and how to manage the ups and downs that come with it.
Helping Your Baby Sleep Better—Focus on the Foundation of Sleep
We all have a circadian rhythm, which is our internal clock. The circadian rhythm is influenced by daylight and darkness. When it comes to babies, they are still learning how to separate the day from night, and their sleep cycles can vary from one child to another. One of the most important steps in establishing healthy sleep habits is to set up a consistent bedtime routine. Set up a routine that works for your family, and stick to it every night. Children need to know what to expect each night to relax and get ready for sleep. This could be as simple as a hot bath, a story before bed, or a gentle massage.
Remember, your baby’s room should be a place where he/she can rest and sleep, so it’s essential to ensure that it’s conducive to restful sleep. The baby’s room should be quiet, comfortable and dark. Here are some tips on creating your baby’s perfect sleeping environment:
- Make sure the temperature in your baby’s room is comfortable for them. Your baby will be uncomfortable and restless if it’s too hot or cold.
- Use blackout curtains or shades to block out light from outside sources so that there is no chance of your baby waking up too early due to sunlight streaming into the room.
- Avoid anything too engaging for your little one, including artwork or highly contrasting wall colours. If you don’t, your baby will be too busy checking out his/her surroundings instead of getting the rest they need.
Once you address the basics of your child’s sleep, such as an appropriate sleep environment, regular activities and a predictable schedule, your child is likely to experience an improvement in his/her sleep habits.
Do I Need To Leave My Baby To Cry It Out Alone?
You are probably thinking, “I don’t want to do that. I want to be there for my baby.” If the thought of making your baby cry for any reason feels wrong, then that’s okay! We do not use the cry-it-out method in our training. The cry-it-out method, sometimes called extinction sleep training, means letting your child cry until he/she learns to fall asleep without help. We believe that babies should not have to cry for long periods before falling asleep, and it can be difficult for parents to let their baby cry in order for the baby to learn to self-soothe.
Here’s a little heads up, mamas! There’s no such thing as a no-cry method. Your baby will cry for at least part of the learning process—but you do not need to leave him/her crying the whole night with no response from you. Each baby develops at his/her own pace, and each family’s needs differ. The methods I’ve been trained in allow me to create a plan you feel comfortable with based on what we know about your baby. While a suitable sleep training method is important, it’s only one piece of the larger puzzle of creating good sleep habits.
When it comes to baby’s sleep, don’t be hard on yourself if things aren’t always perfect. You can try to be consistent and create an age-appropriate routine. Routine makes it easier for your baby to learn what’s coming next. If you follow the same routine every day, like playtime, lunch and then a nap, your baby will soon learn to expect sleep after the routine is done. Sometimes, just when you think you’ve figured out your baby’s sleep pattern, things may change again.Take a deep breath and remember that your baby is growing very rapidly every day, so he/she is bound to have changes all the time.
There’s a solution here that’s exactly right for you!
Sleepy Bubba can tailor a personalised sleep plan just for your baby and family – helping your baby sleep better and discover what works best for your family. Not every baby is the same, so customise a sleep solution that fits your family’s needs. That’s why I’m here. My process is straightforward.
- Sleep evaluation and personalised sleep plan for your baby.
- Guidance on how much sleep your child should be getting, what you can do to build a flexible schedule, and how to understand your baby’s feeding timings.
- Help with any transitions, including bedtime, weaning and dropping the pacifier.
- Support you at the touch of a button.
Keep your head up; stay confident!
When you’re sleep training your baby, remember that you’re his/her guiding light. As you embark on this journey, remember that consistency is essential. As you enter this new phase of parenthood, there is much to learn, grow and change. As a sleep consultant in Singapore, I’m happy to help you figure out what kind of sleep consultant family plan in Singapore works best for you and your child. Book a FREE 20-minute discovery call with me today, and learn more about my sleep training plans for baby in Singapore.
Keep trying, and don’t give up, mamas!